Wire dispensing apparatus



Aug- 18,1931- .LlcoLlTz 1,819,734

` WIRE 'DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28,- 1929 s sheets-Shen 1 ifm/.5.

Aug. 18, 1931. y J. coLl'rz 1,819,734

WIRE DI SPENSING APPARATUS w 762602 Camz 5y /wwfmv Aug. 18, 1931. J. coLlTz 1,819,734

WIRE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 18, 1931 PATENT oFFice-A L .meen eoifrrz, on" ourense, iLLI'Nors WIR-n nisrsnsive APIAnalifiiUs` ,Y Application menstrual-y 28,. lesa serial. No, 343,365.

My inventioiiil relfates'to wire 'dispensing' apparatus `oi" the typek employe-d by' elec--A tricians and' like artisans, and lnoreparfti'cl'arly to' reels supported inl a manner' toE teed the wire as required, and my main Velolect to provide anovel'reel of this kind" in which the wire coili is'verticallyY positioned whereby to dispose the wireV for) handy re- .moval. Y further object of the invention isto design the novel' reelwith means to irrnly secure the wire coil againstl slippage or disintegration, and to* vsupport the samein a position to be rotated or'the release of wire as required. s

A still iurthjer object ofthe invention is to construct the novel reel withmeans tol accommodate two coils of wire which are independently rotatable to feed` one or .tw'of 2C' Wires in separate courses.'

Another objectief the invention is t'o'sd design;l the novel reef that the mounting' of constructthe' novel reel with' a stand which r is sirnple` and compact, and'ni'ay'hek moved about ,with easezto become located' handy vto 3-0VtheWO1l.

' incorporate means in the apparatus whereby to lock'v the wire coilstothe stlauidwhentl1eapparatus "is: not required for use. `v vhere'hy j to l prevent. theft of wire; from the apparatus. A inal, `butnevertheless important object oftheinventionlis to design thestand of the I reel with simple' means f orftheL pr'operfguidance of the wiresas requiredi-or thevarious- 4 A' phases ofthe work.

others that may suggest themselves from the specificationfand claims to followaa'hetter" understanding.of the invention "Inay; 'h e drawings, .in whichf-Av \Figure 1A is-anlendelevation of the appa'- Fig. 2

5'0""left hand side of Figure 1, of tlie stand,

A gained by`referen`ce tol the accornparrying is a rearV elevation, takenlfrom the' showingonly one' end portion of" the latter; F 1g; 3 1s a plan section of the reel?, showingI provision made fortwo wire spools;I

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of lone ofV the s Y.

reel units, partly brokenaway, and in recep# tive position for a coilI of wire;

j Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fi'guret showing the position changed vfor the retention of the coil of Wire; .s 'i

l Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of a locking device; v

Fig. 7 is a section on. the line 7-7 of Figure 6; and

Figs. 8,. 9, and 10V are Views of parte. 1 Y Y Injrunning electricl wireto conduits having the usual walll orceiling outlets, the wire is usua'll'ytaken from a coil" which lies lfat detailed on the floor. "As the wire from one or twov 1.

coils is taken, spirals of the v,wire rise Vfrom the coilI and often become tangledor snarled, requiring patient handling and straightening'befor'e thefwire'can be fed into the outlet.` Also, the spi-ral form Voi the ,W'ire'sections' makes the wire hard to train and considerable tiineis lost bythe worker in attending to' the passage of the wirefrom the coil to the point where itis handled. By the use of the novel dispensing apparatus, l' 'employl a reelf ina y w I single unit orin two units in a sta-ndof-.skele-j l An importanty object of the invention is to;

ton type, such reel being movable with: ease togany point desired, and: maintaining tlie coils in a position-to `feed the wire as'dernan'ded and Without spreading or tangling the same.

' Reierringspecilically to the: drawings, the stand whichis employed to support the wheel'y Ais composedof'crossed end units,.io r1ned ofl metal baren and 16, `the ffm ofY are Stand 1 Y V being considered on' the side ofthe upper'por` AVVith-the above vobjects in view and any` andfori facility in movingfth eistand4 over the' '5 floor,- the lower' ends of the' hars" 15' are'` equippedwith' groundV wheels. 118. The harsv 161are lvol'ainv at their l'oW'er ends in Order to V` maintain the stand/withv stability wherever set; Further cross-braces 17a and Hfare* provided at the lower portion of the stand.

The ends of the stand receive riveted plates 19, formed with outward and opposed bends 20 which are cut with open slots 20al to form bearings for the end trunnions 21 of a solid shaft 22 designed to support the reel units. The bends 2O receive and are braced by cross bolts 23 which are secured by nuts 24; and each end structure is provided withan arm 25 pivoted in the corresponding bar 15 to swing as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. The arm 25 has an aperture 25a in its free end which registers with an o eninff in b D the upper end of the corresponding bar 16, so that when the arm moves alongside the bar 16, a padlock may be passed through the registering apertures to lock the arm to the bar. lith this done, it will not be possible to lift the trunnions 21 clear of the stand. However, when the arms 25 are swung up as indicated by dotted lines, the removal of dspacer straps 30 of which three are Yshown the trunnions may be effected, since their bearings are open at the top as indicated at 20a in Figure 2.

It is my intention that the reel units forV each coil of wire rotate freely upon the shaft 22, so that wire may be drawn from each reel by causing the latter to spin. To this end, I construct each reel unit fundamentally with :end disks 27 and 28, these disks beingcircular in form and centrally apertured to freely turn upon the shaft. The disks 27 and 28 are held together by means soon to be made plain, but in order that the reel units may .not move along the shaft, I provide fixed collars 29 on the latter from bothV sides of the disk 28, as clearly shown in Figure 3, thereby stationing the disk from travel along the shaft. V

The disks 27 and 28 are held together by equi-distantly arranged. About these straps is aV floating ring disk 31 intended to be the mate for the disk 28 for the purpose of receiv-A ing therebetween a coil of wire 32 which has "been sectionallyshownby"theuse of dotted itis my intention to secure the wire spool` to the reel unit, so that the latter may retain the spool byassuming the changed position shown in the unit on the right hand side of Figure 3. The securing action mentioned is effected byan array of rods 33 grouped about the center of the reel unit and normah ly having the inclined position shown in the left hand unit. These rods have outward right-angled bends 33a, and their action is to be swung outwardly from the position at the left to the position at the right, whereby to expand against the inner periphery of the wire coil 32 to secure a firm hold on the latter and use the outer bends .33alasgend retainers next outside of the ring disk 31. The retainers during their expansive movement thus serve to locate the ring disk in a central position to properly guard the wire coil. In installing thek rods 33, I form the inner ends thereof with heads 335 and anchor such ends loosely in a ring 34 secured by bolts 330 to the spacer straps 30, twistingalternate portions 34@ ofthe latter to transverse posi-I tion in order to stiften thering. w The other ends of the rods 33, are 'formed with outward extensions 330 terminating with bends 33d in the direction of the shaft 22.

Referring more particularly to Figures 4 and 5 means arenotedY for .simultaneously spreading the rods 33 to'secure the hold A,upon the wire reel 32. For this purpose, I provide a fork-shaped spider 35, whose pocket receives the shaft 22, so that the spider may be said to be centered about the shaft. In addition, the spider is intended to be moved transversely of the shaft and in close proximity to the face of the disk 27, the latter having an external block 36 between the arms 35a of the spiderl and formed with flanges 36a to overlie the said arms and furnish a guide for the movement of the spider. This movement from theposition of Figure ll to that of igure 5 is effected by drawingan outward basal bend 355 of the fork in the corresponding direction. The bend 33d of one of the rods 33 is securedto the fork bend 355 by being screw-threaded to receive a' nut 37 inside the latter, andiit will be obvious that with the outward movement of the fork the direct spread Iof the given rod' 33 will occur. As to the remaining rods, of which two are employed laterally of the fork links 38 `are extendedfrom the ends ofthe fork,

arms 35 to be secured to the bends 33d ofthe corresponding rods by nuts 38a, the,links'be-` ing perforated for the loose 'passage of thev outwardly extendedfromV the disk 27 fork guidance; and spring 40 extended to the hnks from the disks are employed to maintain the parts 1in the inactive position of Figure 4. Thus, when the fork 35 has been 'moved to the position of Figure 5, the elect will be to spread all ofthe threejrods 33 against the tension of the springs 40,..which, however,

return the parts to the original position when` theyV are released` The fork receives additional guidance by being cut with a slot 355 through which a headed stud 35c is passed metadata@ i i.

` yVhen mounting a givenfwire coil, itis, of

course, ydesirable that the same be clamped fastl upon the reel unit in the manner d escribed. Inorder that the clamping vrneans mayi'remain'vset, I provide a locking device illustrated in'Figures 4to 7. 'On the outer face of 'ih-e .disk 27 at a point to one side of the fork 35 is rockably `mounted on a rivet pin 41,' a key fitting 42, the same having oppositely directed tongues 42aV and 42?). The tonguev tion in a horizontal plane, the pin being supported by' a tongue 46 forced in from the stockof the disk and leaving the aperture 46a. Owing to the greater weight of the Y tongue 42a, as against the tongue 42?) of the key fitting 42, the tongue 4222 normally bears up against the branch 44a.` However, the tongue 42a is notchedA at 42o in the edge opposite the disk 27,so as to'clear the branch 44a in case the position of the key itting becomes inverted. It will now be seen that with the position of the fork 35 extended and the tongue `42a caught in the notch 43 of the fork, the latter willv be prevented from re-l turning by the abutting position of the -tongue 42?) against the rocker arm branch 44a. yThe rocker arm 44 is maintained in the position shownby'anrexpansive spring 47 effective upon the branch 445. The locking effectupon the wire coil is thus maintained. However, should it be'desired to release the clamping means for the coil, itis only necesn sary to'draw upon the `branch44l by means of a handy linger ring 440, this swinging the rocker arm 44 with-the effect of backing itsV branch44a `off the tongue 426.v The springs drawing uponthe fork 35 will now cause the sameto return to the initial position. It should be 'notedthat thenotch 43 in the fork is of .eXtra width so as to permit angular motion ofthe tongue 42a 'for the entrance and 'p release thereof.V ,i Y v A In cases where Vbut Va single reelunit isv necessary, the structure may be considerably siinplied by substituting for the arrange? ment ofthe trunnions`2l the simplecross piece 48 shown in Figure 10. Two of these cross pieces .are slid upon the shaft 22 near theends andlthet points 48a of the cross piece made V5toserve in the manner ofthe trunnions21by seating of the frame bearings.

V ,Ifheistand of the reel isjequippedwith special guidingunits vfor the wire as it is 'plates'GO y n Y ,Y i When 1t 1s necessary to confine awireor the sameV in theslots drawn'y from either or both'reelfunits. Thus, where thel wire is drawn downwardly, as indicated by dotted Vlines 49 in Figure l', for the leading of the. wire downwardly by way of the outlet 50 into thelowerconduit 51,'it-'is` desirable to have a cross rod 52a in front to guidethe wire. This cross rod is supportedl b'y side pieces 53V secured to the ends ofthe stand. On the other hand, `where Vitis de= sirable to feed: the wire upwardly by way of the outlet 50 into theupper conduit 52', the'4 wire is first ledrdown asiindicatedby' dotted lines 54 to wrap under a crossrodf :and: to continue in anupwarddirection into the out-. let and further into the conduit 52. f' Like the rod52a,.the second rod 55 is also suitably supported by 'side pieces 56 secured'toth'e'ends of the stand. Frequentlyyit is 4'desirableitol raise the wire4 high :toffeed itin adownward direction toa high wall outlet, inlwhic'h event the benefit of a cross ro d 57 is had, this rodl being' held by side pieces 58 whichswing'as a unit from pivotal supports -59 near the up# per ends of thestand bars llv Thus, in orderv to nia-ke use of thev cross rod 57 vfor the guidfance of argiven wire or wires, the assembly of the rod and its side pieces 58fis swung in the direction of the small arrowin Fgure'l to the position indicated bydotted lines. "In order that the arch so formedmayremain .as

swung, I provide ay simple locking device,l constructed as follows :'-Thebars v15 are provided at theirupper ends with forwardly projectingfkeeper plates" GO, and each of the;

side pieces 58 carries in'` swiveledrelation .at 6l a." plate 62, this plate having .aninward bend 63 at one end andan outward lug 61a projecting from one of its sides. VVhenthe y arch is not used,I the weight of the bend 63 maintains the plate `62 in the position showny in Figures 1 and l8, the lug 64fof veach-platev abutting the forwardedge vof the corresponding'side piece 58g, However, when thel archV has been swung to the high position, theplate Y over-balances-due to the weight of the bend 63,l.so that-the bend assi'imes "a position iin` front-of the frontal edge of 'the keeper "plate 60l andv is prevented from lfa-llingbeulow such edge by' the-"stopping of the lug 64 against the rear edge of theside pieces 58. Thusgany rearward "stress onlthe part of the raised arch is counteracted by the pressure ofthe bends 63 upon Ythe `forward "edges Vof the" keeper wires Vto afairly definite course, theldevice illustrated in lFigures 2 and 9 may. be em*-v ployed. This device consists of two'inajor One of these is a tubular clamp 65Y parts. l which is mounted onthe'stand .rod 17, and whose j aws 65a are secured :by .thumb screws 66 whereby tosecure the clamp .yetleave a Y spacebetween the jaws. In this space lis in?.VV

sertable jthegterminal stem 67a ofta, wire loop vhoseopposite vterminus is formed with an eye 67 Z) which is loosely linked on the rod 17. When the loop 67 is slid in the direction of the clamp 65, the stem 67a may be rested upon the inner one of the thumb screws 5 66, the loop 67 serving as an enclosure for the passage of a wire therethrough. In order that the departure of the loop 67 from the clamp may be counter-acted, a third thumb screw 68 is applied to the jaws on the inner side of the stem 67 a, as indicated in Figure 2, so that it will be impossible to back the stem out of the clamp. rllhe latter is accordingly fixed upon the rod 17, but it is easy to open the loop 67 at any time, this being done by simply turning the thumb screw 68 to a suflicient extent that the stem 67a may clear the same when the loop 67 is slid in a departing direction from the clamp.

Besides having a bracing function for the plate bends 20, the bolts 23 also serve as leaning supports for the shaft 22 when it is swung high at one end with the *corresponding set of trunnions 21 as a pivot, so as to rest against the proper bolt 23 and facilitate the mounting of a wire coil by way of the free end of the shaft. Further, I provide a cross-piece 23a more inwardly of the bends to serve as a catch support in case such free end of the shaft fails to reach the leaning support 23 and is about to drop. By stopping the shaft as a medial point in its fall, the cross-piece 23a saves the free end of the shaft and parts associated therewith from suffering injury or distortion by heavily striking parts in the mi lower portion of the stand.

It will be seen that I have provided a structure of rugged design and extreme simplicity to accomplish the purposes I have in mind. The entire device is of comparatively I light metal, and may be readily drawn from one place to another to be handy to the outlet services. By placing the reel units on a horizontal axis and away from the Hoor, I keep the accumulation of wire in the coils in the closely wound relation in which it comes and only remo-ve as much wire as is required. Finally, the device is simple to handle and operate, and will save a greatdeal of time, labor and dificulty to the worker. 25g I claim yl. A wire reel comprising a. frontal disk,

a backing disk, and a circular array of spaces rigidly connecting the disks and adapted to receive the wire coil, one disk being larger andthe spacers tapering in avconical assembly in the direction of the other disk, and means carried by the disks and eXpansible against the inner side of the coil to hold the latter to the disks".

2. The structure of claim 1, and outward guards extended from said means to confine the coil between the guards and the backing disk.

'3. The structure of claim 1, outward guards 5.5!. extended from said means to confine the coil frontal disk, aV backing disk, spacers to rigidly connect the disks and receive the wire coil, a ring carried by the spacers inwardly of the backingdisk, a circular array of rods linked with their rear portions to the ring, and means carried by the frontal disk t spread and gatherpthe rods.

5. A wire reel comprising a spool-like body adapted to carry a wire coil, circularlygrouped-,members carried by the bodyy to hold the coil to the same,a lever reciprocable on one end of the body to operate one of said members radially, and links extended from said lever to operate Vthe other members radially, the member-group expanding'with one directional movement of the leverv and linksand contracting with the opposite movement thereof. v 1

6. The structure of claim 5, and springs effective upon the links to resist the eXpan-` sive movement of the member-group. 90 7. The structure of claim 5, and an auto matic lock effective on the lever when moved to a position whereby the expansion of the member-group is attained.

8. The structure of claim 5, and a shaft on which the body is rotatable, the lever being bifurcated in the region of the shaft to clear and be guided by the same.

9. A wire reel comprising a spool-like body adapted to carry a wire coil,l eXpansible means carried by the body to hold the coil to the same, an outwardly movable lever on one end of the body to operate said eXpansion means and recessed on the side, a rockable detent tripped by, the outward movement of the lever and received inthe recess of the latter, and a stop to check the detent when urged by the inward movement of the lever, whereby to lock the latter again-inward motion.

10. Thestructure of claim 9, the detentbeing on the face of said end, andthe stop protruding from 'behind-the latter.` 11. |The structure of claim 9, the detent being on the 'face of said end and the stop protruding from the latter, and pressure means to maintain the stop in effective position.

12. The structure of claim 9, the detent being on the faceof said end and the stop protruding from the latter, pressure means to maintain the stop in effective position', the stop being rockable to and from said position, and an eXtension'of the stop manually Y operable to rockthe latter in a direction to dispose it in the ineffective position. 1,25

13. A wire reel comprising aV spool-like body, a shaft on which the Vlatter is rotatable, stops on the shaft to check the endwise travelv of the body, laterally-extendedv trunnions carried by the ends of the shaft, open bear- 130 ing standards to receive the trunnions, and terminal cross rods carried by the bearing standards and forming leaning stops for the shaft When poised in one of the bearings.

14. A Wire reel comprising a spool-like body, a shaft on Which the latter is rotatable, stops on the shaft to check the endWise travel of `the body, laterally-extended trunnons carried by the ends of the shaft, open bearing standards to receive the trunnions, and cross rods carried inwardly by the bearing standards and forming catch stops for the shaft When the shaft fails of support in one of the bearings.

l5. A Wire reel comprising a spool-like body, a shaft on Which the latter is rotatable,

Y stops on the shaft to check the endWise travel of the body, laterally-extended trunnions carried by the ends of the shaft, open bearing standards to receive the trunnions, and hasps adapted to close over the shaft end-portions and confine the shaft in the bearings.

16. The structure of claim l5, and locking devices to secure the hasps to the bearing standards. Y

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature.

JACOB COLITZ. 

